2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Review

"We are still managing physics right here. I just want you to keep in mind that." So claims Erich Heuschele, supervisor of SRT car dynamics to the 20 approximately writers he's about to turn loose on a racetrack in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. We're dealing with physics, sure, however additionally an earnest effort to oppose them with equal components horsepower and also inanity. Say, "707-horsepower Jeep" to any individual who hasn't been paying attention and also they just wiggle a finger into an ear and also squint at you. "Huh?".

We did own the maximum Jeep on public roads, but this Grand Cherokee has "track" right there in its name, so we likewise struck Club Motorsports, a New Hampshire club circuit so new that teams were still mounting Armco the week prior to we turned up. It's a 2.5-mile StairMaster that functions its way backwards and forwards 250 feet of elevation change at a maximum 14 percent quality. Keeping his new Trackhawks from flexing that fresh Armco is something Heuschele cares deeply about.

The topography, on the other hand ... no one's also stressed concerning that. Few points flatten hillsides rather like 707 horse power. Crazy maybe, the Hellcat engine at the very least must recognize by now. Down 251 cubic centimeters compared with Mopar's naturally aspirated SRT engine, it's a 6.2-liter V-8 covered with a 2.4-liter IHI supercharger that stuffs the Hellcat's eight cylinders with 11.6 psi of boost to produce such jaw-dropping output. In the Trackhawk, it makes its full complement of horse power but sheds 5 lb-ft of torque compared to the auto applications-- to 645-- because of an extra limiting exhaust system.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Specs

Caught up in a sledgehammer battle versus the supercharged V-8, designers used the same blunt-force attitude to the remainder of the powertrain: There's a beefier transmission and a stouter transfer case, as well as the back driveshaft, half-shafts, Curriculum Vitae joints, and also differential are reinforced. The front axle is the same from the normal SRT Jeep. That transmission is still a ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic, currently christened 8HP95 and formally ranked to deal with approximately 811 lb-ft. The transfer situation paths torque ahead with a larger chain compared to in the normally aspirated SRT, with forged-steel sprockets instead of powdered-metal ones. Tube-wall density mindful the back driveshaft, while the differential housing gains a mount, going from three to four. Inside, the diff itself goes from two crawler gears to four, with customized tooth geometry for better strength. The Hellcat engine alone surpasses its normally aspirated sibling by 108 extra pounds, and also the bigger-hammer requirements increases the Trackhawk an additional 105 extra pounds generally over the Grand Cherokee SRT, according to Jeep.

Like the Challenger SRT Demon, the Trackhawk gets a Torque Reserve function to aid launching. With launch control triggered, this system reduces gas to private cylinders while the Jeep is brake-torqued, allowing the engine to rev greater and also the supercharger to develop even more increase. With the function engaged, the blower creates 6.4 psi while resting at the line. Just what the Trackhawk does not obtain is any more tire compared to the Grand Cherokee SRT. Raise your foot off the brake and also the Trackhawk will certainly screech all 4 295/45ZR -20 Pirellis (either all-season Scorpion Verdes or extra hostile P Zeros) on its way to exactly what Jeep claims is a 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph time. The company claims the Trackhawk will certainly burn via the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds, however offered our recent failure to match SRT's performance cases, we think that number could also be just out of reach. Offer or take a couple of tenths, though, Club Motorsports' 14 percent grade really felt as flat as Google Maps' 2D view (where, by the way, the track still turns up as dust since this writing-- we told you it was brand-new). Our one issue concerning the engine is that we want more blower gripe when the accelerator is matted. There's a great little bit under lighter tons, however at full throttle, it discolors behind a surging gargle blaster of an exhaust roar so strong it sounds like the tailpipes are clearing into the cabin. (" The call is originating from inside your home!").

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Exterior

Barreling down Club Motorsports' hillsides highlights the rest of the Trackhawk's capability. It preserves the SRT's control-arm front and multilink back suspension format, but the springs are 9 percent stiffer up front and also 15 percent stiffer out back. Not surprisingly for something so heavy and with so much rubber at each edge, it's quite stable-- a preferable quality on a training course with great deals of camber variances. But toe right into the brake and also it'll rotate-- or assailed the brake and it'll dance disconcertingly, also in a straight line. The guiding is a touch sluggish yet hefty enough for perceptible weight to hemorrhage off as the nose starts to wash out. Although the brakes constantly really felt strong, pedal travel raised to an alarming level during our splashing session.

At 15.7 inches in size, the Trackhawk's two-piece (light weight aluminum hat and iron rubbing surface area) front rotors are 0.8 inch larger than those on the normally aspirated SRT Jeep. The 13.8-inch rears coincide, as are the six-piston front and also four-piston rear calipers, but the Trackhawk's pinchers obtain a coat of yellow paint. Jeep wishes you like it, due to the fact that it's what you get no matter outside shade or whether you choose the common aluminum-finish or optional satin-black wheels. The latter are three pounds lighter per edge.

Those yellow calipers are just one of the Trackhawk's couple of exterior informs. Others consist of the deleted fog lights, their nests hollowed out for an oil cooler on the guest's side as well as a cold-air intake on the vehicle driver's side. A new rear fascia suits the quad exhaust outlets. There's a subtle "Trackhawk" badge on the reduced best corner of the liftgate as well as "supercharged" script listed below the normal Grand Cherokee lettering on the front doors.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Interior

Inside, there are Trackhawk logo designs on the seats, a Trackhawk-exclusive red-and-black two-tone interior option, and a 200-mph speedometer. That's optimistic by just 20 ticks, inning accordance with Jeep, but by its alignment the speedo always minimizes your rate: 0 is straight down, 200 is straight up, as well as at 100 miles per hour, the needle points straight. To the majority of us, a declined tip is requesting for even more mph, yet this one just starts to close on flat at extralegal speeds.

The rest of the interior is standard Grand Cherokee SRT fare: large, with comfortable seating front and also rear and a substantial freight hold. There's a reason the Grand Cherokee is among the very successful SUVs in the country, as well as those 200,000 or so yearly buyers aren't making a bad choice. While the Trackhawk's stiffer trip is visible on New England's rough country two-lanes, it's not so harsh about be an exit ramp. Better not attempt to turn off those roads, however, due to the fact that while the Trackhawk is a Jeep, its technique and also separation angles are a lot more like those of a Toyota Camry.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Price

However the Trackhawk does counter its 707-hp breeding telephone call with an inevitable excrescence: its $86,995 base cost. That's $17,905 more than you'll pay to get a Hellcat engine in a Charger and also $20,405 greater than it costs in a Challenger. The Trackhawk is extremely nearly as fast as either of those, and it's even more drivable. And also, it'll tow 7200 pounds, sufficient to let you bring the Hellcat of your selection along on a trailer-- even if it's an extra Trackhawk. The problem comes when you start including options and look at in a similar way priced efficiency SUVs. It's not difficult to cover $100,000 with a Trackhawk. No, the BMW X5 M as well as the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 do not have horse power ratings starting with fortunate number 7, however they're in the same performance ball park and also use more gloss and also better-- if wholly various-- eminence. Unless, naturally, a customer just desires the Hellcat mania in a manageable package. Due to the fact that it's a dreadful great deal of fun resisting physics in this Jeep.